4516 


GIFT  OF 

PROFESSOR  C.A,    KOFOI 


CASE 


Dr.    BROWN'S 

S  E  R  M  O  N, 

ON     THE 

DANGERS  AND  DUTIES 

OF     THE 

SEAFARING  LIFE. 


SERMON, 

ON     THE 

DANGERS  and  DUTIES 

OF     THE 

SEAFARING  LIFE; 

PREACHED  BEFORE  THE 

Proteftant  Diffenting  Congregation, 

AT  HALIFAX; 

AND  PUBLISHED  AT  THE  DESIRE  OF  THE 

MARINE     SOCIETY, 

IN  THAT  PLACE. 

BY  ANDREW   BROWN,  D.D. 

Minifter  of  the  Proteftant  Dijftnting  Congregation. 


PRINTED  AT  THE   &poU0  J3ref#,    IN   BOSTON, 

BY  BELKNAP  AND  HALL, 

DOCK  SQUARE. — 1793. 

AND     FOR    SALE    AT    THE    BOSTON    BOOKSTORE, 
NO.  59,   CORNHILL. 


GIFT  OF 


PROFESS  OR  .C.  A, 


- 


ADVERTISEMENT. 

TlIE  following  Sermon,  ha/lily  prepared  at 
fea,  while  the  feelings  it  defcribes  and  the  train  of 
thought  to  which  they  lead  werefrefJi  on  the  mind,  was 
delivered  in  the  ordinary  courfe  of  duty,  without  any 
view  to  publication.  At  that  time,  the  Author  did  not 
know  of  the  exijlencc  of  a  Society  in  this  place  for  the 
benevolent  purpofe  of  patronizing  and  relieving  dif- 
treffedfeamen  ;  and  could  notforejee  that  his  dif courfe 
would  meet  their  approbation,  or  be  thought  capable 
of  promoting  the  dcjigns  of  their  inflitution. 

Afenfe  of  gratitude  for  much  kind  attention  receiv 
ed  from  failors,  and  ajincere  de/ire  of  contributing  to 
their  benefit,  has  induced  him  to  comply  with  the  too 
partial  requejl  of  the  MARINE  SOCIETY  (the  prin 
ciple  of  whofe  'injlitution  he  highly  approves)  and  to 
fujftr  this  dif  courfe  to  be  printed  for  their  ufe. 

HALIFAX,  April 2 9  1793. 


PSALM  cvii.  from  verfe  23  to  33. 

They  that  go  down  to  the  fea  in  [hips,  that  do  bufinefs  in 
great  waters :  The/e  fee  the  works  of  the  Lord,  and  his 
wonders  in  the  deep.  For  he  commandeth  and  raifetk 
the  Jl  or  my  wind,  which  lifteth  up  the  waves  thereof. 
They  mount  up  to  the  heaven,  they  go  down  again  to  the, 
depths :  their  foul  is  melted  becaufe  of  trouble.  They 
reel  to  and  fro,  and  Jl  agger  like  a  drunken  man,  and 
are  at  their  wit's  end.  Then  they  cry  unto  the  Lord  in 
their  trouble,  and  he  bringeth  them  out  of  their  dif- 
trejjes.  He  maketh  thejiorm  a  calm,  Jo  that  the  waves 
thereof  are  JlilL  Then  are  they  glad  becaufe  they  be, 
quiet,  fo  he  bringeth  them  unto  their  defired  haven. 
Oh,  that  men  would  praife  the  Lord  for  his  goodnefs, 
and  for  his  wonderful  works  to  the  children  of  men  I 
Let  them  exalt  him  in  the  congregation  of  the  people, 
and  praife  him  in  the  ajfembly  of  the  elders. 

H  E  Minifters  of  the  Gofpel  are 
appointed  to  explain  the  do&rines  of  Chriftian- 
ity,  to  adminifter  its  facraments,  and  to  inculcate 
the  practice  of  piety  and  good  works.  Their 
commiflion  inftrucls  them  to  preach  the  glad 
tidings  of  reconciliation  and  forgivenefs  to  every 
creature,  and  they  are  authorized  by  the  exam 
ple  of  an  apoftle,  to  become  all  things  to  all  men, 


8 

that  they  may  gain  fome.  Hence  it  is  their  duty 
to  feleft  all  forts  of  fubje&s,  and  to  addrefs  all 
claffes  of  men.  No  order  is  fo  defpicable  as  to 
be  below  their  notice,  and  none  fo  profligate  as 
to  be  beyond  their  hope. 

In  their  paftoral  care  of  the  Chriflian  Church, 
it  is  incumbent  on  Minifters  to  confider  the  par 
ticular  lituations  in  which  their  congregations 
are  placed,  the  character  of  the  different  ranks 
which  compofe  them,  and  the  dangers  and  temp 
tations  to  which  they  are  fubje&ed  ;  that  they 
may  be  enabled  to  accommodate  their  difcourfes 
to  their  capacity,  and  to  recommend,  with  ener 
gy  and  effect,  the  fentiments  and  conduct  which 
are  fuited  to  their  circurnftances  in  life. 

In  a  feaport  town,  where  many  have  con 
cerns  on  the  ocean,  and  are  employed  in  mips, 
it  will  not  furely  be  reckoned  too  great  an  en 
croachment  on  the  rights  of  general  inftruQion, 
to  beftow  a  particular  difcourfe  on  the  feafaring 
life  ;  efpecially  when  we  confider  that  none  of 
the  works  of  God  are  indifferent  to  any  of  his 
people,  and  that  the  practical  inftructionsdeduc- 
ible  from  the  prefent  fubjeft,  will,  in  a  great 
meafure,  be  equally  applicable  to  all. 

Were  further  juftification  necefTary  for  adopt 
ing  fuch  a  theme,  I  fhould  fay  of  the  order  of 
men  to  whom  it  more  particularly  belongs,  what 
the  Jews  faid  of  the  Centurion,  who  befought 


Jefus  for  the  recovery  of  his  fervant,  "  They 
are  worthy  for  whom  we  fhould  do  this/'  Tho* 
rough  in  manners  and  in  fpeech,  their  hearts  are 
good,  and  readily  warm  with  friendlhip  for  each" 
other,  and  with  pity  to  the  poor.  They  are 
very  fufceptible  of  ferious  impreffions  and  of 
gratitude  to  God  ;  and  though  not  generally 
diftinguifhed  by  the  profeffion  of  religion,  they 
are  at  word,  I  truft,  more  thoughtlefs  and  in- 
confiderate,  than  obflinately  wicked. 

In  the  text,  which  is  equally  remarkable  for 
fimplicity  of  flyle  and  juftnefs  of  defcription, 
the  Pfalmifl  has  given  us  a  very  animated  repre- 
fentation  of  the  dangers  of  the  feafaring  life,  and 
of  the  impreflions  v/hich  they  make  on  the  heart 
of  the  mariner.  Treading  in  the  fteps  of  this 
infpired  guide,  I  propofe  to  offer  a  few  obferva- 
tions  on  the  following  articles  immediately  con 
nected  with  this  profeflion  : 

I.  On  the  belief  of  the  exiftence  and  govern 
ment  of  God,  or  at  leafl  of  the  practical  confe- 
quences  of  that  principle,  which  is  ex^prefled  or 
implied  in  navigation,  and  in  all  the  hazardous 
occupations  of  life. 

II.    On  the  fignal  manifeftatioris  of  the  divine 
power  and  providence  which  are  made  to  the 
mariner  on  the  great  waters. 
B 


10 

III.  On  the  imminent  dangers  of  the   fea- 
faring  life,  and  the  merciful  protection  which 
God  extends  to  thofe  who  are  engaged  in  it. 

IV.  On  the  fentiments  and  conduct  becom 
ing  this  expofed  and  perilous  profeflion. 

All  thefe  ideas  are  evidently  included  in  the 
words  of  the  Pfalm,  "  They  that  go  down  to 
the  fea  in  fhips,  that  do  bufinefs  in  great  wa 
ters  :  Thefe  fee  the  works  of  the  Lord,  and  his 
wonders  in  the  deep.  For  he  commanded!  and 
raifeth  the  flormy  wind,  which  lifteth  up  the 
waves  thereof.  They  mount  up  to  the  heaven, 
they  go  down  again  to  the  depths ;  their  foul  is 
melted  becaufe  of  trouble.  They  reel  to  and 
fro,  and  dagger  like  a  drunken  man,  and  are 
at  their  wit's  end.  Then  they  cry  unto  the 
Lord  in  their  trouble,  and  he  bringeth  them 
out  of  their  diftrefles.  He  maketh  the  ftorm  a 
calm,  fo  that  the  waves  thereof  are  dill.  Then 
are  they  glad  becaufe  they  be  quiet,  fo  he  bring 
eth  them  unto  their  defired  haven.  Oh,  that 
men  would  praife  the  Lord  for  nis  goodnefs, 
and  for  his  wonderful  works  to  the  children  of 
men !  Let  them  exalt  him  alfo  in  the  congrega 
tion  of  the  people,  and  praife  him  in  the  aflem- 
bly  of  the  elders." 

I  begin  with  offering  a  few  obfervations  on  the 
belief  of  the  exiftence  and  government  of  God,  or 
at.leaft  of  the  practical  confequences  of  that  prin- 


il 

ciple,  whichis  expreiled  or  implied  in  navigation, 
and  in  all  the  hazardous  occupations  of  life. 

Whether  we  fear  God,  or  do  not  fear  him,  we 
are  indebted  to  principles  eftablifhed  by  religion 
for  our  comfort  and  fecurity  in  all  the  trying  exi 
gences  of  this  mortal  ftate.  In  a  particular  man 
ner  it  is  owing  to  our  belief  in  the  exiflence  of 
God,  and  in  the  fixed  laws  of  his  government, 
that  we  go  down  to  the  fea  in  (hips  with  compof- 
ure  and  expectation.  Were  there  no  order  in 
nature,  no  prefiding  Agent,  and  no  fettled  con- 
neclion  between  caufes  and  effects,  we  durft 
not  truft  ourfelves  from  firm  ground,  and  could 
not  tread  even  there  with  any  meafure  of  confi 
dence. 

Did  we  believe  that  chance  had  produced  the 
lyftem  of  the  univerfe,  and  placed  us  in  our  fla- 
tion,  we  could  have  no  fecurity  for  the  continu 
ance  of  our  exiftence,  or  for  the  duration  of  the 
world  in  which  we  dwell.  Chance  cannot 

;  work  with  defign,  and  the  fabric  which  it  had  fo 
wonderfully  reared,  it  might  again  deflroy  in  a 

!  manner  equally  wonderful.  In  this  ftate  of  un 
certainty  with  refpect  to  our  being,  we  fhould 
have  no  determinate  principles  to  regulate  our 
conduct. 

All  things  would  appear  fingle  and  unrelated, 
refulting  from  no  eftablimed  caufe,  and  referring 
to  no  certain  end.  Of  confequence  experience 


would  be  of  no  femce  to  us,  as  we  could  not 
infer  from  what  had  taken  place  yefterday,  that 
to-morrow  the  fame  caufes  would  be  attended 
with  the  fame  effects,  or  the  fame  means  pro 
ductive  of  the  fame  ends.  The  future  would 
be  wholly  fortuitous,  and  on  ordinary  as  well 
as  extraordinary  occafions,  when  we  had  any 
matter  of  importance  at  flake,  we  fhould  be  at 
our  wit's  end. 

On  the  other  hand  if  we  had  reafon  to  fup- 
pofe  that  an  eternal  fate  and  uncontroulable 
neceffity  directed  the  courfe  of  things,  it  would 
be  our  duty  to  wait  in  perfect  tranquillity  till 
their  pleafure  was  made  known,  and  then  to 
fubmit  to  the  decree  without  a  flruggle  or  a. 
murmur.  On  this  fcheme,  reafon  and  prudence, 
effort  and  action  would  be  completely  fuperfed- 
cd  ;  nothing  being  more  obvious  than  that  fate 
cannot  be  altered,  and  that  it  is  vain  to  con 
tend  with  neceffity. 

Even  on  the  beft  fyftems  of  infidelity,  our  ex- 
iftence  and  the  world  around  us  would  be 
gloomy  and  uncomfortable.  Unknown  and 
irrefiftible  powers,  who  had  counted  mankind 
worthy  of  no  communication  of  their  will,  would 
be  working  on  every  fide,  without  any  regard  for 
our  happinefs.  Ignorant  of  their  nature,  and 
of  the  ends  of  their  adminiftration.  in  profperity 
Fe  fhould  not  be  able  to  enjoy  ourfelves,  or  the 


arbitrary  .gifts  ,cf.  our  invi&ble  fcenefa&ojis  ;  and 
in  adverfity  we  could  have  no  prefent  help,  and 
no  fuftaining  hope  of  future  deliverance. 

The  belief  of  the  exiftence  and  government  ofan 
everlafting  and  Almighty  Being,  wife,  ancl  juft, 
and  beneficent,  compofes  our  fears,  and  gives 
us  courage  and  confidence  in  the  rnoft  perilous 
fcenes.  By  the  difcoveries  of  revelation,  his 
perfections  are  made  our  truft,  and  his  provi 
dence  becomes  our  fafeguard.  There  we  learn 
that  infinite  wifdorn  cannot  err,  and  that  eter- 
i  nal  goodnefs  is  incapable  of  change ;  that  the 
intelligence  which  knows  the  end  from  the  begin 
ning  can  ordain  nothing  but  what  is  good,  and 
that  what  is  once  ordained  can  never  be  improv 
ed,  and  cqnfequently  will  not  be  altered. 

Thefe  principles  of  religion  infpire  us  with 
confidence  in  the  order  of  nature,  and  in  the 
efficacy  of  our  own  exertions.  They  allure  us 
that  in  the  time  to  come  as  well  as  in  that  which 
is  part,  the  fun  will  rife  in  the  eaft,  and  the  mag 
net  point  to  the  pole  ;  that  in  the  fame  latitudes 
the  variation  and  declination  of  the  needle  will 
be  regulated  by  the  fame  laws  ;  and  that  in  fim- 
ilar,  circumflances,  limilar  appearances  will  be 

the  indication  of  fimilar  effects. 

• 

Proceeding  on  thefe  folid  principles  which 
are  eftablifhed  by  religion  with  ftill  greater  au 
thority  than  by  philofophy,  the  mariner  weighs 


his  anchor,  and  fpreads  his  canvas  to  the  breeze* 
Under  their  direction  he  purfues  his  courfe  thro* 
the  pathlefs  waters  ;  fweeps  the  horrizon  to  af- 
certain  the  mid-day  hour ;  calculates  his  diftance 
from  his  port,  and  even  ventures  to  predict  the 
time  of  his  arrival. 

I  do  not  mean,  however,  to  afTert  by  any  of 
the  preceding  obfervations,  that  the  perfons 
who  acl;  upon  thefe  principles  do  it  with  defign, 
Or  in  a-religious  fpirit.  It  is  much  to  be  feared 
that  this  is  very  feldom  the  cafe.  Walking  in  a 
beaten  track,  and  guided  by  cuflom  and  habit, 
they  too  often  take  advantage  of  them,  as  cir- 
curnilances  require,  without  any  refle&ion  at  all. 
Jn  the  fame  fituation  they  repeat  the  fame  ac 
tion,  inftinclively  and  mechanically,  with  no 
concern  about  its  immediate  operation,  or  the 
ultimate  effects  which  it  is  intended  to  produce. 
Neverthelefs,  when  we  trace  their  conduct  to 
the  foundation  on  which  it  reds,  it  evidently 
refolves  itfelf  into  the  principle  here  affigned, 
the  belief  that  a  wife  and  benificent  Providence 
rules  the  world  by  general  and  unalterable  laws. 

SonecefTary  is  the  exiftence  and  government 
of  God  to  the  exiftence  of  the  world,  and  the 
comfort* of  his  creatures,  and  fo  true  is  it  that  in 
every  ftep  we  take,  we  carry  at  Icaft  the  pra&ical 
convi&ion  of  his  exiftence  and  government  at 


our  hearts,  and  in  our  hands.  Our  belief  of  this 
truth  is  expreffed  or  implied  in  the  whole  of  our 
conduct,  but  more  efpecially  in  our  hazardous 
undertakings  ;  and  confidering  how  important 
this  grand  principle  is  to  our  fecurity  and  enjoy 
ment,  it  is  our  reproach  as  well  as  our  crime, 
that  we  are  ever  fo  inattentive  to  our  intereft,  as 
to  aft  upon  it  without  proper  fentiments  of  ra 
tional  truft  and  filial  piety. 

This  inattention  and  negligence  will  appear 
more  inexculible  in  fuch  as  frequent  the  fea,  if 
we  confider.  in  the  fecond  place,  the  fignal  man- 
ifeflations  of  the  power  and  Povidence  of  God 
which  are  daily  made  to  them  on  that  element. 
*;  They  that  go  down  to  the  fea  in  mips,  that  do 
bufinefs  in  great  waters  :  Thefe  fee  the  works  of 
the  Lord,  and  his  wonders  in  the  deep/' 

The  wifdom  of  the  Almighty  ordained  the 
feparation  of  the  elements  ;  and  by  diflributing 
them  in  admirable  order  and  in  juft  proportion, 
he  has  diverfified  the  appearance,  andincreafed 
the  perfection  of  his  works.  The  fea,  that 
grand  magazine  of  moifture,  forms,  as  it  were,  a 
world  by  itfelf ;  is  peopled  by  diftincl;  tribes  of 
being ;  and  governed  by  peculiar  laws.  It  like- 
wife  miniflers,  in  an  endlefs  variety  of  ways,  to 
the  falubrity  and  fertility  of  the  earth,  and  to 
the  convenience  and  improvement  of  man.  In 
this  advanced  ftage  of  commercial  intercourfe. 


it  may  well  be  faid  that  the  Tea  at  once  fevers 
and  unites  the  nations.  In  the  infancy  of  things 
we  may  perhaps  fuppofe  that  men  viewed  its 
fwelling  deeps  with  difmay,  and  turned  from  the 
advancing  flood  not  only  as  from  a  boundary 
they  were  forbidden  to  pafs,  but  alfo  as  from  an 
enemy  threatening  to  deftroy.  By  degrees, 
however,  they  were  reconciled  to  the  appear 
ance  of  this  immenfe  affemblage  of  water,  and 
having  learned  that  "  God  had  broken  up  for  it 
his  decreed  place,  and  fet  bars  and  doors,  and 
faid  hitherto  malt  thou  come  but  no  further, 
and  here  mall  all  thy  proud  waves  be  ftaid  ;"* 
they  approached  it  with  confidence,  and  foon 
.became  familiar  with  its  ftorms  and  its  tides. 
Neverthelefs,  to  adopt  the  language  of  an  an 
cient  poet,  threefold  oak,  that  is,  the  mod  invin 
cible  refolution,  muft  have  fhielded  his  heart 
who  firft  violated  the  fan&ity  of  the  ocean,  and 
in  a  frail  bark  tempted  the  winds,  and  the  waves, 
and  the  feverer  wrath  of  the  angry  powers  who 
were  fuppofed  to  have  chofen  it  as  their  pecu 
liar  refidence.  But  gathering  courage  from  the 
fuccefs  of  their  firft  adventures,  and  finding  the 
benefit  of  their  commerce  with  the  deep,  men 
foon  became  more  enterprifing ;  and  while  they 
proceeded  with  caution  and  prudence  on  their 
part,  hoped  by  prayers  and  facrifices  to  appeafe 
r*  Job  xxxviii,  10, 


the  refentmerit  of  the  gods  of  the  waters,  and 
to  make  them  propitious  to  their  defigns.  Ne- 
ceffity  continuing  to  fharpen  invention,  expedi 
ents  were  multiplied  on  expedients  to  add  to  the 
eafe  and  fafety  of  conveyance  by  water.  Every 
new  generation  improved  on  the  pra6tice  of  the 
part,  and  tranfmitted  to  future  times  fome  valu 
able  difcovery  of  its  own  ;  till,  in  the  progrefs 
of  art  and  fcience,  from  a  raft,  which  a  few  ofiers 
bound  together,  a  flup  was  conftrufted,  the  mofl 
ingenious  and  perfect  of  all  the  mechanical  pro 
ductions  of  man. 

Thus  to  the  dominion  of  the  earth  the  domin 
ion  of  the  fea  has  been  added ;  and  in  the  pref- 
ent  improved  Mate  of  fhipbuilding,  the  mariner 
enjoys  almofl  all  the  advantages  which  the  land 
affords,  and  delivered  from  the  illiberal  terrors 
of  fuperflition,  has  an  opportunity  of  contem 
plating,  without  interruption  and  without  fear, 
the  works  of  God,  and  his  wonders  in  the  deep. 

In  this  great  department  of  nature,  thefe  are 
neither  few  nor  inconfiderable.  and  it  is  riot  nec- 
effary  to  go  far  from  land  to  difcover  them. 
Around  the  fkirts  of  the  more  a  garden  is  plant 
ed  in  the  waters,  abounding  with  vegetable  pro 
ductions  of  various  appearance  and  quality. 
This  marine  nuriery  is  exceedingly  beautiful. 
C 


i8 

The  preparation  which  nature  has  made  to  at 
tach  its  productions  to  the  bottom,  and  to  di 
rect  their  growth  to  the  furface  and  the  light,  is 
wonderful ;  and  the  whole  of  their  economy  is 
efiablifhed  by  that  mafterly  (kill  which  has  done 
all  things  well.  In  their  watery  bed  they  anf- 
wer  the  good  purpofes  for  which  they  were  cre 
ated,  and  neither  flourifh  nor  fade  in  vain, 

As  we  depart  from  the  land,   the  ocean  itfelf 
claims  our  undivided  atlention.      In  a   ftate   of 
reft  it  is  a  magnificent  and  ftupendous   object. 
Extending  further  than  the  eye  or  the  imagina 
tion  can  reach,  it  is  poured  into  bays  and  inlets 
without  number,  and  encompaffes  the  earth  as 
a  girdle.     When  the  atmofphere  is  clear,  the 
imrneafurable  expanfe  of  water  enlarges  our  fac 
ulties,   and  gives  elevation  to  our  conceptions 
of  the   univerfe.     The  mind  fwells  with  the 
fcene  which  it  contemplates  ;  the  range  of  vilion 
is  extended ;  and  for  the  moment,  an  addition 
feems  to  be  made  to  our  notions  of  infinitude. 
But  this  is  a  fubje6l  upon  which  we  cannot 
enter.     The  confideration  of  the  ufes,  phenom 
ena  and  laws  of  the  ocean,  would  divert  us  from 
our  proper  bufinefs,  and  lead  to  dilcudions  un- 
luitable  to  this  place.      Suffice  it  to  fay,  that  if 
the  earth   is  full  of  the  riches  of  the   Creator's 
wifdom  and  goodntfs,   fb  alfo  is  the  great  and 
wide  fea.      Perhaps  indeed  the  ocean  is  more 


replete  with  life  than  the  land.  Through  the 
whole  of  its  extent  myriads  of  creatures  range 
unconfined,  and,  with  all  our  boafled  fcience,  it 
is  but  little  that  we  know  concerning  them.  Ac 
certain  feafons  of  the  year,  particular  fpecies  of 
them  are  found  in  one  place,  and  at  a  different 
period  they  furprife  the  mariner  in  a  far  diftant 
region.  Some  rude  gueffes  have  been  made 
with  regard  to  the  length  of  their  life  ;  but  we 
are  £1  rangers  to  the  initin&s  which  regulate  their 
migrations,  to  the  routine  of  fervice  they  per 
form,  and  to  their  various  ufes  in  the  fyftem  of 
animated  nature.  So  far  indeed  as  the  learn 
ed  have  been  able  to  examine  their  external  fig 
ure  and  their  internal  conformation,  and  to 
reafon  from  thefe  to  their  condition  and  bufinefs 
in  their  own  element,  they  have  found  the  mod 
infallible  proofs  of  the  wifdom  of  the  Creator, 
and  of  his  unwearied  attention  to  the  perfection 
and  happinefs  of  his  creatures. 

The  feathered  tribes  which  dwell  upon  the 
ocean,  or  frequent  its  coafts,  proclaim  the  fame 
comfortable  truth,  that  God  is  good  to  all,  and 
that  his  tender  mercies  are  over  all  his  works. 
The  extent  of  the  fea  is  their  domain  ;  and  fee 
ble  as  they  are,  they  are  taught  to  fhun,  or  fit 
ted  to  refill  the  fiercenefs  of  the  tempeft.  Where- 
ever  they  are  found  they  appear  to  be  at  home, 


20 

and  though  in  general  they  move  an  flocks,  yet 
fome  of  them  are  feeri  alone  far  from  any  land, 
and,  as  it  were,  in  a  ftate  of  exile  from  the  reft 
of  their  fpecies.  Delighting  in  the  filence  of 
an  untroubled  retreat^  perhaps  for  months  to 
gether  they  do  not  vifit  the  more  ;  and  their  ex- 
iftence  is  entirely  unknoxvn  fave  to  him  who 
ieeth  all  things. 

But  a  more  interefting  object  fometimes  at 
tracts  the  manner's  notice  and  reminds  him  oi: 
the  vigilance  of  providence.  Remote  in  the 
ocean  as  well  as  amongfl  the  habitations  of  men, 
the  danger  of  venturing  too  far  on  forbidden 
ground  is  occafionally  difplayed  in  a  very  afFe6t- 
ing  manner.  A  bird  belonging  to  the  land 
draws  near  the  fhip,  borne  on  a  weary  wing. 
Surprifed  in  all  probability,  while  hovering  on 
the  more,  by  a  fudden  blafl  whole  impetuofity  it 
was  unable  to  refill,  it  was  carried  out  to  fea, 
and  perhaps  for  feverai  days  was  driven  along, 
without  any  other  exertion  on  its  own  part  but 
that  of  preventing  itfelf  from  falling  into  the, 
water.  As  the  ftorm  abated  the  anxieties  of 
iilf  prefervation  returned,  and  it  looked  round 
for  a  place  of  fafety.  The  appearance  of  the 
fliip  attracts  its  notice,  and  like  the  dove  at  the 
deluge  of  the  old  world,  it  draws  near  with  con 
fidence  and  hope.  The  antipathies  of  its  n,a,- 


21 

ture  are  fubdued  by  fuffering,  and  it  is  no  long 
er  afraid  of  man.  It  feeks  a  refuge  at  his  fide, 
and  may  be  lure  to  find  one  in  the  compaflkm 
of  the  failor,  who  has  himfelf  known  danger  and 
fear.  The  extent  of  the  hoftile  element  on 
which  this  bird  was  expofed,  the  weaknefs  of  its 
frame,  and  the  wonderful  concurrence  of  cir- 
cumflanccs  which  effect  its  prefervation,  natur 
ally  raife  the  mind  to  the  contemplation  of  that 
eternal  power  without  whofe  permiffion  even  a 
fparrow  cannot  fall  to  the  ground,  and  who,  out 
of  the  very  jaws  of  death  can  give  deliverance. 

In  ordinary  cafes  the  variety  at  fea  is  not 
great ;  there  is  a  fatiguing  famenefs  in  the  avo- 
cations\)f  the  day  ;  and  incidents,  which  elfe- 
where  would  be  reckoned  trifling  are  there  fuf- 
ficient  to  amufe  the  mind.  Of  thefe,  however, 
all  fuch  as  ferve  to  compofe  the  thoughts,  and* 
to  infpire  tranquillity  and  hope  are  peculiarly 
pleafing.  Hence  it  is  obferved,  with  a  ming 
led  fentiment  of  latisfaclion  and  joy,  that  in  the 
bofom  of  the  ocean  the  grand  phenomina  of  na 
ture  are  as  magnificent  and  beautiful  as  in  the 
bed  cultivated  land.  There  the  arch  of  heav- 
en  preferves  its  majefly,  and  the  rainbow  the 
(plendour  of  its  appearance  ;  there  the  fky  is 
variegated  with  all  the  tints  and  fhadings  which 
give  luftre  to  a  fummer  morning,  or  rnildnefs 


22- 

to  an  autumnal  day.  The  fcene,  indeed,  is  pe 
culiar,  and  the  mariner  finds  himfelf  in  a  new 
fituation.  As  the  fun  defcends  below  the  gild 
ed:  wave,  a  folemri  (tillnefs  prevails  ;  no  cattle 
;-•  no  fmoke  riles,  and  no  diilant  noife  indi- 
the  prefence  or  the  labours  of  men.  In 
pfi>£)ortion  as  the  la  ft  flreaks  of  reflected  light 
di&ppear  in  this  weft i  a  deeper  gloom  advances 
from  thee  oppolite  quarter;  and  at  length  the 
fcorifcon  con  lifts  of  dark  waters  and  thick  clouds 
fcf  the  fky.  , 

Such  a  fituation  requires  vigilance  and  cau- 
^k>n,  and  may  lead  us  to  coniider  in  the  third 
pface,  the  various  dangers  to  which  the  feafaring 
MFc  is  expo  fed. 

The  defencelefs  ftate  of  a  fhip-at  fea  without 
conibrt  or  corrvoy,  the  continual  expofure  to  ac 
cidents,  and  the  little  probability  of  efcape  or 
deliverance  were  any  evil  to  happen,  mufl  in 
forne1  degree  at  leaft  render  a  voyage  a  tedious 
and  an  anxious  period.  The  fafety  of  the  mari 
ner  is  always  uncertain,  and  his  life  is  in  jeopar 
dy  every  hour.  In  the  finefl  weather  and  with 
£he  faired  profpe&s,  the  carelefTneis  or  the-  caf- 
ualty  of  a  moment  may  deftroy  his  hopes,  and 
reduce  hfm  to  extremity.  They  who  follow 
other  profeflions  may  alfo  walk  in  the  midft  of 
clangers,  of  fnares,  and  of  death  ;  but  then  thefe 


are  in  general  concealed  from  their  view,  a«4 
they  proceed  in  a  beaten  tra6l  without  difquie- 
tude  or  apprehenfion.  By  t  a  multitude  of  haz 
ards  furround  the  mariner  which  perpetually 
flare  him  in' the  face,  and  there  is  hardly  a  ftep 
he  can  take,  or  a  part  of  his  duty  that  he  can 
difqharge  without  expofing  him-felf  to  danger. 

B.elides.  the  niind  has  never  either  more  lei- 
fure  or  inclination  to  contemplate  the  nature 
of  the  fcene,  and  to  dwell  on  its  uncertainties, 
than  during  a  long  voyage.  Many  things  occur 
to  fix  the  attention  on  what  is  prefent,  and  few 
to  divert  it  to  more  exhilirating  profpecls.  The 
fecluiion  from  the  world,  the  abfente  of  friends, 
and  of  all  the  objects  that  have  been  accufiomed 
to  carry  the  individual  beyond  himfelf,  leave 
the  mind  unoccupied  ;  nothing  interrupts  the 
current  of  uneafy  thought  ;  and  when  our  fears 
are  once  alarmed,  they  magnify  real  and  create 
imaginary  dangers. 

But  even  imagination,  fertile  as  it  is  in  ficlion, 
can  fcarcely  multiply  the  perils  of  the  fea.  So 
many  combinations  of  difficulty  and  fuffering 
are  ppffible  on  that  element,  and  fuch  a  variety 
of  new  and  untried  evils  are  daily  experienced 
in  the  courfe  of  navigation,  that  no  calculation 
of  chances  can  afcertain  the  fum  of  hardfhip  tc» 
which  it  is  expofed.  From  the  hiftory  of  nau- 


24 

ticai  expeditions  of  all  kinds,  it  is  evident,  that 
more  complicated  and  fevere  diflrefles  have  been 
endured  in  fhips  than,  was  ever  known  on  Chore 
even  in  the  time  of  liege  and  battle.  Fatigues, 
and  terrors,  and  difafters  are  the  mariner's  infep- 
arable  attendants;  and  thefe  are  increafed  in 
proportion  to  the  charge  and  authority  with 
which  he  is  inverted.  The  mailer's  office  is  pe 
culiarly  arduous  :  The  management  of  the  (hip 
and  the  feamen  is  expected  of  him,  as  well  as 
refolution  and  conduct  in  the  feafon  of  perplex 
ity.  Whatever  is  difficult  or  embarrafiing  in  a 
voyage  falls  on  him  with  double  weight,  and  his 
vigilance  and  activity  can  never  fleep  with  fafe- 
ty.  Contrary  winds  or  continued  calms  are 
equally  hoflile  to  his  repofe  ;  while  the  fcarcity 
of  provifions,  the  attack  of  difeafe,  or  the  en 
trance  of  difcontent,  fummon  him  at  once  to 
the  moft  delicate  and  decifive  interpofition. 

The  text  refers  in  a  particular  manner  to  the 
labours  and  dangers  of  the  ftorm,  and  though 
thefe  are  not  the  word  evils  incident  to  naviga 
tion,  yet  they  are  of  a  very  alarming-kind,  arid 
awaken  all  the  anxieties  of  the  heart. 

From  the  feafon  and  lituation  in  which  it  at 
tacks  the  mariner,  the  terror  as  well  as  danger 
of  the  florm,  may  be  greatly  augmented.  In 
the  dead  of  night,  it  is  an  awful  thing  to  en- 


Counter  the  rage  of  the  wind  and  the  toffings  of 
the  fea.  Light  is  enlivening  ;  and  the  face  of 
heaven,  even  though  enveloped  with  clouds, 
infpires  a  degree  of  confidence  and  fecurity 
which  we  never  poffefs  in  darknefs.  Befid'es,  the 
meafures  to  be  taken  for  the  fafety  and  eafe  of 
the  vefiel  are  then  obvious,  and  can  be  carried 
into  execution  with  more  certainty  and  expedi 
tion,  than  when  all  is  night  and  uproar,  and 
the  mailer's  orders  can  neither  be  heard  nor  an 
ticipated. 

In  every  fituation,  however,  and  with  all  pof- 
fible  precaution,  the  working  of  the  temped  is 
terrible  to  the  mariner.  When  heaved  from  its 
bed  the  ocean  fwells  tumultuoufly,  nothing  can 
withdand  the  commotion.  Mountains  are  heap 
ed  upon  mountains,  and  the  flouted  Ihip  muft 
labour  for  life.  Meanwhile  dangers  thicken, 
and  fear  invades  the  company.  Every  hour 
their  condition  grows  more  critical  ;  "  They 
mount  up  to  the  heaven,  they  go  down  again 
to  the  depths  :  Their  foul  is  melted  becaufe  of 
trouble.  They  reel  to  and  ft;o,  and  dagger  like 
a  drunken  man,  and  are  at  their  wit's  end." 

The  continuance  of  their  trials  exhauds  their 
flrength,  and  deprefles  their  fpirits  ;  and  at 
length,  overpowered  by  fatigue,  they  give  them- 
felves  up  to  defpondence.  On  the  brink  of 
eternity,  they  think  of  the  feat  of  Judgment, 
D 


and  of  their  appearance  before  God.  But  fear* 
are  in  the  way,  and  the  fcene  which  excites 
them  inftead  of  infpiring  hope,  fuggefts  the  idea 
of  terrible  majefty  and  devouring  wrath.  WhaC 
a  moment  is  this  for  the  diffolute  and  impure  I 
Their  paft  actions  rum  upon  their  memory,  and 
confcience  condemns  them  for  every  fin  they 
have  committed.  Stung  with  remorfe,  they 
Ihrink  from  the  thought  of  meeting  the  Father 
of  their  fpirits  in  all  the  frefhnefs  of  unrepented 
wickednefs.  But  who  lhall  now  interpofe  in 
their  behalf,  or  add  to  their  life  a  fhort  refpite  for 
penitence  and  preparation  ?  Their  friends  are 
far  diftant  and  cannot  hear  their  cry  ;  they  are 
cut  off  from  the  inhabitants  of  the  world,  and 
there  is  none  to  pity,  far  lefs  to  relieve  them. 
Without  a  comforter  in  all  the  earth  but  the 
God  whom  they  have  fo  often  offended,  their 
eyes  and  hearts  are  lifted  up  to  heaven,  and  they 
call  upon  the  Lord  if  fo  be  he  will  think  upon 
them  that  they  perifti  not.  The  King  of  mercy, 
who  rules  in  the  fyftem  of  nature,  and  hears  the 
voice  of  all  thofe  that  pray  unto  him,  liftens  to 
their  ^application,  rebukes  the  wind,  and  fays 
unto  the  fea,  peace,  be  ftill.  Immediately  the 
ftorm  becomes  a  calm  ;  the  Iky  re  fumes  its 
wonted  ferenity ;  and  the  fun  looks  out  and 
fmiles.  "  Then  are  they  glad  becaufe  they  be 
quiet ;  fo  he  bringeth  them  unto  their  defired 
haveru" 


But  perhaps  their  hardfhips  and  fufFerings  are 
not  yet  at  an   end.      As   his  home  rifes  before 
him,  the  joy  of  the  mariner  is  checked  by  the 
folemn  consideration,  that  trouble  is  not  pecu 
liar  to  the  ocean,  that  difeafe  and  death  are  al 
ways   at   work,   and   that  every   day  produces 
changes  of  its  own.     In  this  various  life,  indeed, 
it  fometimes  happens  that  they  who  go  down  to 
the  fea  in  fhips  are  preferved  from  the  dangers 
of  their  profeffion,   to  meet  feverer  affliction  on 
the  Chore.    The  family  and  relations  whom  they 
left  in  health,  and  whom  they  expected  to  em 
brace  in  gladnefs,  dwell  in  the  houle  of  mourn 
ing.     The  eyes  that  were  wont  to   brighten  aC 
the  lignal  of  return,  are  clofed  in  death  ;    and 
the  heart  which  overflowed  with  gratitude  in  the 
hour  of  reunion,    is  covered  with  the  clods  of 
the  valley.      The  habitation  of  domeflic  joy  is 
dark  and  empty  ;   the  voice  of  kindnefs  which 
chid   the  long,   though  involuntary  abfence,  is 
filent;  and  the  tender  afFeclion  which  fhare'd  in 
every   viciffitude  of  fortune,  and  called  for  the 
whole  (lory  over  and  over,  no  longer  iweetens 
the  bitternefs  of  grief,  or  heightens  the  tranfport 
of  joy.     The  unexpeclednefs  of  luch  an  event, 
and  the  fudden  tranfition  from  the  elevation  of 
hope  to  the  depth  of  affliction,  makes  this  ftroke 
fall   heavy  on  the  head  of  the  manner  :   But  it 
is  one  of  the  calamities  incident  to  the  feafaring 


28 

life,  and  ought  to  concur  with  the  reft  in  im- 
preffing  failors  with  an  abiding  fenfe  of  thetr 
abfolute  dependence  on  God,  and  of  his  great 
goodnefs  in  favihg  them  from  fo  many  dangers, 
and  vifiting  them  fo  feldom  with  fuch  afflidtive 
difpenfations. 

From  this  fhort  and  imperfect  view  of  the  per 
ils  of  navigation,  I  now  proceed^ to  offer  fome 
observations  on  the  fentiments  and  conduct  be 
coming  feamen.  And  here,  furely,  I  may  be 
allowed  to  afk  in  the  firft  place,  what  returns  of 
veneration,  obedience,  and  gratitude  are  not  due 
from  thofe  who  are  fo  peculiarly  under  the  care 
of  God,  and  fo  fignally  preferved  by  his  provi 
dence  ? 

We  have  all  received  fo  many  bleffings  from 
the  goodnefs  of  our  Maker,  that  we  are  bound  to 
love  and  to  ferve  him  fo  long  as  we  have  any 
being.  But  the  ordinary  tenor  of  his  provi 
dence  is  fo  benificenr,  and  in  common  life  the 
gifts  of  his  liberality  tt>me  fo  much,  as  it  were, 
in  the  common  courfe  of  things,  that  we  do  not 
generally  perceive  and  acknowledge  the  hand 
of  the  giver.  We  are  only  awakened  to  con- 
fideration  and  gratitude  by  fingular  and  fhik- 
ing  interpofitions  of  mercy  ;  and  however  un 
thankful  we  may  be  for  our  daily  prefervation, 
and  the  neceffary  bleffings  of  life,  we  all  agree 
that  perfons  :vho  are  expofed  to  imminent  dan- 


gers.  and  who  meet  with  furprifing  deliverance, 
ought  to  teftify  their  dependence  by  an  exem* 
plary  piety,  and  to  exprefs  their  gratitude  by 
public  acknowledgments. 

In  juftice  to  human  nature,  it  rmift  be  allow 
ed  that  this  fentiment  has  a  perceptible  influence 
on  the  conduct  of  thole  who  have  concerns  at 
fea.  Confidering  that  element  as  hoftile  to  hu 
man  life,  and  taking  it  for  granted  that  it  muft 
require  the  peculiar  care  of  Providence  to  pre- 
ferve  the  manner,  and  to  profper  the  bufinefs 
which  is  tranfadted  in  fhips,  we  find  that  a 
guarded  manner  of  expreffion,  and  a  more  than 
ordinary  fhew  of  piety  diftinguifhes  the  conver- 
fation  of  the  fober  part  of  failors.  The  fame 
thing  may  be  remarked  in  the  forms  of  infur- 
ance  and  agreement  reipe6Hng  Ihipping.  The 
fupremacy  of  Providence  is  devoutly  acknowl 
edged  by  the  contracting  parties  ;  and  phraf- 
es  expreffive  of  dependence  on  the  divine 
will,  occur  more  frequently  in  their  covenants, 
than  in  other  writings  of  a  fimilar  nature.  Act 
uated  by  the  fame  fentiment,  it  is  common  for 
thofe  who  venture  on  enterprises  not  exempted 
from  danger,  without  any  public,  and  frequent- 
ly  it  may  be  prefumed  without  any  private  fup- 
plication  for  the  divine  aJMance  and  protection, 
to  requeft  the  prayers  of  the  Church  before  they 
proceed  to  fea, 


30 

On  that  turbulent  element  men  live  under 
the  impreffion  and  the  awe  of  a  fuperior.     They 
are  encompaffed  with  a  fky  which  blackens  con 
trary  to  their  expectation,   and  find  themfeives 
at  the  mercy  of  winds  and  waters  over  which 
they  have  no  controul.     The  fenfe  of  fear  is  al- 
moft  infeparable  from  fuch  a  fituation  ;  it  is  ex 
cited  by   the   grand   difplay  of  power,   by   the 
magnitude  of  the  danger,  and  the  a6live  folici- 
tudes  of  felf  prefervatfon.     Amidft  the  workings 
of  the  deep  we  look  up  with  awful  reverence  to 
that  invifible  arm,   which  rules  the  moft  active 
Clements  with  as  much  eafe  as  the  moft  inert.  This 
fentiment  is  fo  natural  to  the  human  mind,  that 
we  find  the  prophet  Jeremiah  employing  it  with 
•great  effe£t  in  his  expostulation  with  the  difo- 
bedient  Jews.     "  Fear  ye  not  me,  faith  the  Lord, 
will  ye  not  tremble  at  my  prefence,  which  have 
placed  the  fand  for  the   bound  of  the  fea  by  a 
perpetual  decree  that  it  cannot  pafs  it;    and 
though  the  waves   thereof  tofs  themfeives,  yet 
can  they  not  prevail,  though  they  roar  yet  can 
they  not  pafs  over  it  !"* 

But  though  the  fear  of  God,  worked  into  the 
mind  by  the  manifestations  of  his  power,  ought  al 
ways  to  operate  as  a  reftraint  from  offending  him, 
yet  it  is  a  tranGent  as  well  as  an  illiberal  emotion 

*  Jer.  v.  22. 


3* 

and  cannot  fafely  be  trufted  as  the  guide  of  con- 
duel:.  Better  principles  ought  to  guard  the  vir 
tue,  and  prompt  the  obedience  of  the  chriftian 
failor.  You  have  heard  of  the  long  fuffeiing 
patience  of  God,  and  of  his  goodnefs  in  the  gof- 
pel ;  you  have  cried  to  him  in  trouble,  and 
been  delivered,  and  when  he  makes  you  to 
dwell  at  eafe,  will  you  forget  his  mercy,  or  your 
obligations  to  gratitude  ?  In  the  feafon  of  tran 
quillity,  it  is  your  duty  to  cherifh  the  remem 
brance  of  the  protection  that  was  extended  to 
you  in  the  hour  of  difmay,  and  to  kt  that  re 
membrance  give  fervour  to  your  piery,  and  firtn- 
nefs  to  your  obedie'nce.  It  is  your  duty  to  ded 
icate  the  life  which  God  preferved  from  the 
proud  waters  to  religion  and  holinefs,  to  culti 
vate  the  fpirit  of  devotion,  to  attend  the  public 
worlhip  of  your  preferver,  and  to  publim  what 
he  has  done  for  your  fouls  in  the  prefence  of 
your  brethren.  Thefe  duties  are  forcibly  arid 
pathetically  recommended  in  the  text,  "  Oh 
that  men  would  praife  the  Lord  for  his  good 
nefs,  and  for  his  wonderful  works  to  the  chil 
dren  of  men!  Let  them  exalt  him  alfo  in  the 
congregation  of  the  people,  and  praife  him  in 
the  ailembly  of  the  elders." 

By  fuch  rational  and  manly  conduct  you 
would  unfpeakably  promote  your  comfort  and 
peace  of  mind.  A  fteadfaft  trufl  in  God,  and  a 


32 

devout  dependence  on  his  providence,  would 
arm  you  with  courage  andconftancy  for  all  the 
labours  of  your  profeffion.  Genuine  piety 
would  purify  the  imagination  from  vifionary  ter 
rors,  andcafl  out  every  fear  but  the  fear  of  doing 
wrong.  Shadowy  prefages,  evil  omens,  and  un 
lucky  days,  the  reliques  of  ancient  fuperftition, 
at  which  the  uninftructed  failor  flill  trembles, 
would  no  longer  be  regarded  with  cowardly 
dread ;  things  that  are  indifferent  would  ceafe  to 
give  birth  to  anticipations  of  difafter;  and  all  the 
varieties  of  appearance  in  the  fea  and  the  fky 
would  be  viewed  without  apprehenfion.  Safe 
in  the  divine  protection,  and  fure  of  a  friend  in 
the  ruler  of  the  ftorm,  even  amidft  the  wrath  of 
the  elements,  the  pious  mariner  would  poffefs 
his  foul  in  patience,  and  act  in  the  very  face  of 
death  with  that  calm  ferenity  which  is  fo  ufeful 
in  defperate  cafes.  Animal  courage  is  an  un 
certain  quality,  dependent  on  circumftances, 
and  apteft  to  fail  when  needed  moft.  At  any 
rate  no  rigidity  of  nerves,  or  boldnefs  of  natur 
al  temper,  .can  beftow  that  real  bravery  which 
fprings  from  a  good  confcience,  and  from  the 
confidence  of  fafety.  In  the  hour  of  trial  to 
unaffifted  nature  the  value  of  true  piety  is  fully 
proved.  "  God  is  our  refuge  and  ftrength," 
fay  the  good,  "  a  very  prefent  help  in  trouble. 
Therefore  will  not  we  fear  though  the  earth  be 


33 

removed,  and  though  the  mountains  be  carried 
into  the  midfl  of  the  fea.  Though  the  waters 
thereof  roar  and  be  troubled,  though  the  moun 
tains  fhake  with  the  fwellings  thereof."* 

In  the  2d  place,  let  me  admonifh  thofe  who 
frequent  the  fea  to  beware  of  an  unprofitable 
and  pernicious  fin,  to  which  from  example  and 
inconfideratenefs  they  are  much  expofed,  not  to 
fay  addicted  ;  I  mean  the  fin  of  profane  fwear- 
ing. 

In  order  to  preferve  on  the  mind  of  his  crea 
tures  that  awful  reverence  which  is  due  to  the 

majefly  of  his  perfections,  and  that  inviolable 
fan&ity  which  is  eflential  to  the  obligation  of  an 
oath,  God  commanded  by  an  immutable  law* 
that  his  holy  name  fhould  not  be  taken  in  vain. 
There  is  a  folemnity  and  ftrength  in  the  penal 
fanclion  of  this  precept  which  ought  never  to  be 
forgotten.  "  Thou  fhalt  not  take  the  name  of 
the  Lord  thy  God  in  vain  ;  for  the  Lord  will 
not  hold  him  guiltlefs  that  taketh  his  name  irt 
vain/' 

Now5if  we  attend  to  our  feelings  in  ordinary  life 
we  fhall  find  that  it  is  natural  for  ourfelves  to  be 
extremely  jealous  of  the  manner  in  which  our 
name  is  mentioned.     All  nations  have  {hewn  a 
wonderful  delicacy  on  this  fubjed  and  the  very 
*  Pfalms  xlvi.  i. 
E 


Jl 

ftru6hire  of  language  bears  witnefs  to  the  folici- 
tude  of  mankind  to  avoid  offence  by  rudenefs  in 
addreffing  the  prefent,  or  a  difrefpeclful  ufe  of  the 
names  of  the  abfent.     Indeed   there  is  no  ex- 
preffion    of  contempt   more    mortifying,  than 
the   unceremonious    and  fcornful   ufe   of  our 
name.     Even  between  equals  the  uneafy  emo 
tion  which  this  incivility  produces  is  very  pun 
gent  ;    it  brings  the  flufh  of  indignation  into  the 
face,  embitters  our   refentments    againft  an  ene 
my,  and  occafions  at  leaft  a  temporary    difguft 
with  a  friend.     But  if  it  is  unfeemly    and   im 
proper  for  a  man  to  ufe  the  name  of  his  fellow 
in  a  familiar  and  difrefpeclful  manner,   how  in 
finitely  more  unfeemly  and  improper  muft  it  be 
for  creatures  to  proftitute  and  abufe   the  name 
of  their  Creator,  to  make  it  the   burden  of  their 
converfation,  and  to  degrade  it  as  a  kind  of  ex 
pletive  in  the  chafms  of  their  difcourfe  ?    Other 
lins,  as  has  often  been  obferved,  may  have  their 
temptations  and  their  alleviating  circumftances, 
but  for  this  fin   there  is  no   apology.     Neither 
pleafure  nor  profit  can  refult  from  the   profane 
habit  of  taking  the  name  of  God  in  vain.     Even 
when  ufed  as  an  affeveration,  perhaps  the  moit 
plaufible   pretence  that  can  be  alleged  for  the 
impious  practice,  it  defeats  its  purpofe,  and  in- 
flead  of  adding  credit  and  authority  to  the  re 
lation  it  was  meant  to  corroborate,  uniformly 


35 

excites  a  fufpicion  and  diftruft  of  the  deiigns  of 
the  narrator.  A  perfon  of  good  faith  needs  no 
atteftation  to  the  truth  of  his  report,  and  an 
army  of  oaths  will  not  give  credit  to  the  lips  of  a 
liar.  From  thefe  obfervations  we  may  learn,  in 
part,  the  criminality  of  profane  (wearing,  and 
the  reafon  why  God  will  not  hold  them  guilt- 
lefs  who  are  addicted  to  it. 

The  habit  implies  a  culpable  ivant  of  rever 
ence  for  his  divine  majefty,  and  a  determined 
fpirit  of  difobedience  without  the  profpect  of  re 
ward  ;  it  deftroys  the  practical  regard  which  is 
due  to  the  fupreme  object  of  religious  worfhip, 
and  weakens  the  functions  of  an  oath,  the  Jaft 
Jbond  of  truth  and  civil  fociety. 

Befide  all  this,  fuch  as  follow  the  fea  ought 
to  recollect  that  profane  (Wearing  is  peculiarly 
unfuitable  to  their  defencelefs  condition.  Your 
calling,  as  has  repeatedly  been  dated,  is  full  of 
hazard,  and  in  the  time  of  need  no  other  arm 
but  God's  can  fave  you  from  destruction.  Be 
exhorted  then  to  refpect,in  the  day  of  quiet,  that 
holv  name  which  you  mufl  invoke  when  at  your 
%vit's  end.  Be  not  wicked  over  much  ;  and 
ceafe  to  imprecate  on  every  trifling  occafion  the 
wrath  of  the  Almighty,  left  you  fo  far  provoke 
his  indignation,  as  to  make  him  fulfil  at  your 
lateft  hour  the  mod  terrible  denunciation  in  the 


fcriptures.  "  Becaufe  ye  have  fet  at  nought  all 
my  counfel,  and  would  none  of  my  reproof,  I 
alfo  will  laugh  at  your  calamity  and  mock  when 
your  fear  cometh  ;  when  your  fear  cometh  as 
defolation,  and  your  deftru6lion  cometh  as  a 
whirlwind/'* 

In  the  third  place,  Remembering  the  diffi 
culties  of  your  profeffion,  and  the  accidents  to 
which  it  expofes  you,  be  admoniflied  to  be  tem 
perate  and  fober  in  all  things. 

It  would  exhauft  your  patience,  and  re 
quire  a  volume  to  enumerate  the  evils  which 
are  occafioned  by  drunkennefs.  That  ilupify- 
ing  vice  is  equally  pernicious  to  the  body,  the 
mind,  and  the  worldly  interefts  of  thofe  who 
furrender  themfelves  to  its  power.  Butbefide  the 
long  train  of  direft  evils  which  it  never  fails  to 
produce,  it  alfo  operates  as  an  inlet  to  every  fpe- 
cies  and  degree  of  wickednefs.  The  drunkard 
has  no  command  over  himfelf,  and  in  the  par- 
oxilms  of  intoxication,  is  equally  liable  to  per 
petrate  the  vilefl  or  the  mod  atrocious  crimes. 
"  Who  hath  woe  ?  Who  hath  forrow  ?  Who 
hath  contentions  ?  Who  hath  wounds  without 
caufe  ?  They  that  tarry  long  at  the  wine." 

The  fcriptures  compare  the  flate  of  a  drunk 
ard  on  fhore  to  that  of  a  perfon  who  lieth  down 

*  Prov.  i.  2,5,  26,  27. 


in  the  midfl  of  the  fea,  or  of  one  that  fleepeth  on 
the  top  of  a  matt.  But  how  much  more  im 
minent  is  the  danger  on  that  devouring  ele 
ment  ?  The  mariner  needs  a  clear  eye  and  a 
fteady  hand  :  All  his  faculties  are  neceflary  to 
him  ;  for  when  the  fhip  is  under  fail  there  is  no 
time  to  re6lify  mi  Rakes,  and  in  general  the  in 
advertence  of  a  moment  is  punifhed  with  imme 
diate  death. 

It  is  painful  to  recoil  eel;  how  great  a  number 
of  failors,  in  the  midft  of  their  vigour  and  ufe- 
fulnefs,  are  annually  loft  to  their  families,  their 
friends,  and  their  country,  by  this  debafing  vice. 
Surprifed  in  the  frenzy  or  the  infenfibility  of 
drunkenness,  they  are  carried,  without  a  mo 
ment's  preparation,  to  the  judgment  of  God,  to 
give  an  account  of  their  life,  and  of  the  defence- 
lefs  condition  in  which  they  allowed  themfelves 
to  be  cut  off  in  the  midfi  of  their  days. 

This  coniideration  is  awful,  and  ought  to 
have  its  weight  with  drunkards.  But  perhaps 
it  is  unneceffary  to  expoftulate  with  them  on 
the  folly  and  danger  of  their  conduct ;  for  among 
the  other  effe6h  of  that  deftruclive  habit,  this 
is  not  the  leaf!;  alarming  one,  that  it  generally 
acquires  fuch  a  complete  afcendency  in  the  end. 
as  to  become  almofl,  if  not  altogether,  invinci 
ble.  Let  fuch  then  as  are  yet  unenflaved  re- 


joice  in  their  fobriety,  and  be  thankful  to  God 
for  his  preventing  and  reftraining  grace.  Let 
them  hold  faft  their  integrity  in  this  inftance, 
and  determine  to  avoid,  fo  long  as  they  live,  all 
approaches  to  drunkennefs,  with  as  much  care  as 
they  would  avoid  the  worft  evils  that  can  befal 
them. 

Laftly,  to  fobriety  and  temperance  it  would  be 
your  wifdom  to  add  moderation  and  frugality. 

The  life  you  lead  is  a  rough  and  laborious 
one,  and  your  wages  are  hardly  earned.  Much 
painful  work  muft  be  performed,  and  many  an 
inclement  night  fpent  on  the  watch,  even  in  the 
courfe  of  a  profperous  voyage.  Hence  it  is 
obvious  that  the  duties  of  the  naval  profefiion 
require  health  and  flrength,  and  an  unbroken 
conftitution ;  at  the  fame  time  it  is  plain  that  thefe 
duties  neceflarily  fhorten  the  duration  of  that 
period  in  which  only  they  can  be  borne.  Se 
vere  exertion,  want  of  regular  reft,  and  increafe 
of  anxiety  and  fufferiagm  the  worft  weather, 
with  frequent  and  fudden  changes  of  climate 
and  provifions,  undermine  the  conftitution, 
wafte  the  principle  of  life,  and  produce  a  pre 
mature  old  age.  Accordingly  it  has  often  been 
remarked,  that  there  are  in  comparifon  but  few 
grey-headed  failors,  and  that  in  the  evening  of 
Jife  a  perfon  of  that  profefiion  can  give  but  a 


39 

forfowful  account  of  the  companions  of  his 
youth  and  his  voyages.  In  the  fame  (hip  the 
fucceflion  of  crews  is  rapid,  though  the  owners 
remain  unchanged  ;  and  few  failors,  in  propor 
tion,  continue  fit  for  fervice  to  the  time  of  their 
death,  when  thatevent  is  produced  by  the  gradu 
al  decay  of  age.  If  thefe  obfervations  are  juft,  it 
follows  of  courfe  that  even  independent  of  acci 
dental  calamity,  a  long  feafon  of  inaction  lies 
before  the  mariner,  which  muft  be  comfortable 
or  uncomfortable  according  to  the  prudence  or 
imprudence  of  his  conduct  while  in  the  receipt 
of  wages. 

Hence  refults  the  obligation  fo  peculiarly  in 
cumbent  on  failors  to  be  faving  of  their  gains, 
and  to  provide  in  the  time  of  health  and  fervice 
for  the  helpleffhefs  of  infirmity,  and  the  wants 
of  old  age.  Unfortunately,  however,  in  fpite  of 
fenfe  and  reafon,  the  fpirit  of  prodigality  and 
waitefulnefs  has  long  been  regarded  as  one  of 
the  diftinguifhing  chara&eriflics  of  the  feafaring 
life  ;  and  from  the  number  and  the  arts  of  thofe 
who  are  interefted  in  encouraging  it,  and  from 
the  generofity  of  nature  from  which  it  is  of  pur- 
pofe  fuppofcd  to  fpring,  it  has  been  fan&ioned 
by  cuftom,  and  is  now  almoft  converted  into  a 
profeffional  habit, 


40 

Sailors  no  doubt  have  many  and  flrong  temp 
tations  to  run  into  extremes  in  conduct.  The 
reftraints  to  which  they  are  fubjecled  on  Clip 
board  are  removed  when  they  reach  their  har 
bour  ;  and  it  is  wonderful  in  how  fliort  a  fpace 
the  impreflions  of  the  voyage  are  obliterated. 
As  the  vifions  of  fleep  are  difperfed  by  the  light 
of  the  morning,  fo  the  ideas  which  occupied  the 
mind  at  fea  are  fcattered  by  the  light  of  the 
fliore.  Fatigue  and  fear  are  no  longer  felt ; 
vows  are  forgotten  with  the  perils  which  produc 
ed  .them  ;  and  from  the  very  abftinerice  of  their 
life,  failors  ru(h  upon  forbidden  pleafures  with 
all  the  hunger  of  appetite. 

In  thefe  intervals  of  fervice  they  heed  not  the 
florins  that  are  paft,  nor  the  approaching  mife- 
ries  of  being  at  once  friendlefs,  and  indigent,  and 
old.  By  an  oath  and  a  jeft  they  banilh  ferious 
thought,  and  take  courage  in  diflipating  the 
wages  which  ought  to  fupport  and  cheer  their 
declining  days. 

But  in  the  end  they  fuffer  feverely  for  their 
mifconducl;.  When  difcharged  as  no  longer 
capable  of  fervice.  they  have  neither  refource 
nor  afylum.  Eflranged  from  their  friends  by 
the  nature  of  their  employment,  and  wholly  un 
qualified  for  the  ordinary  labours  of  life,  they 
are  forced  to  call  tbemtelves  upon  the  charity  of 


/ 


the  public.  The  condition  of  the  mendicant 
poor  is  always  humiliating  ;  but  when  there  is 
a  prefumption  that  the  beggar's  poverty  has  been 
occasioned  by  his  vices,  his  folicitations  excite 
little  compaflion,  and  even  his  importunity  ex 
torts  but  fcanty  alms. 

There  is  no  other  way  of  avoiding  fuch 
wretchednefs,  but  by  avoiding  the  folly  and  ex 
travagance  which  produce  it.  Be  it  then  your 
fixed  purpofe  to  aft  a  rational  and  fober  part. 
Not  that  I  would  harden  your  hearts  againfi  the 
entrance  of  pity,  or  fhut  your  hands  againft  the 
claims  of  diftrefs.  Exercife  compaflion  and  be 
neficence,  only  guide  your  affairs  with  difcretion. 
Live  by  principle,  and  prefcribe  to  yourfelves 
an  honourable  economy.  Cherifh  no  fuperflu- 
ous  defires,  and  incur  no  unneceffary  expenfe, 
that  if  accident  or  growing  infirmities  mould  dif- 
able  you  for  fervice,  it  may  be  in  your  power  to 
retire  to  fome  decent  ftation,  in  which  the  laft 
years  of  life  may  be  ufeful  and  happy. 

But  here  you  will  naturally  recollect  that 
this  is  not  the  whole  of  the  provifion  which  it 
becomes  you  to  make  for  the  future.  Melan 
choly  and  uncomfortable  were  the  ftormy 
Voyage  of  human  life,  if  it  conducted  us  to  no 
fafe  haven  of  peace  and  of  joy.  But  beyond  this 
fea  of  trouble  there  is  a  harbour  of  everlafting 
F 

. 

.-•**••  «** 


4* 

reft.  The  inconveniences  and  evils  which  dif- 
trefs  us  here  have  no  exiftence  in  that  uncloud 
ed  region ;  the  wind  and  the  waves  are  ftill  ; 
the  danger  of  Ihipwreck  is  over  ;  the  condition 
of  the  good  is  happy  beyond  conception  ;  and 
their  happinefs  will  have  no  end.  Is  it  not  of 
the  firft  importance  then  to  be  ready,  if  we  may 
be  allowed  the  expreffion,  for  this  final  embark 
ation  ?  In  this  fublunary  ftate  every  thing  is 
uncertain.  Our  labours  may  be  fruitlefs  and 
our  preparations  vain,  for  death  and  judgment 
only  are  fixed  and  unavoidable.  Be  it  therefore 
your  firft  and  chief  care  to  make  your  peace  with 
God  according  to  the  terms  of  the  gofpel.  Con- 
lider  your  ways,  and  repent  of  your  fins ;  pray 
for  the  forgivenefs  of  God  thro*  the  interceflion  of 
Jefus,  and  for  the  grace  of  his  fpirit  to  keep  you. 
from  falling  in  the  time  to  come.  Give  not  fleep 
to  your  eyes  nor  flumber  to  your  eyelids  till  you 
have  made  fome  progrefs  in  this  rnoft  needful 
work  ;  and  when  you  have  once  heartily  begun 
it,  you  may  go  down  to  the  fea  in  mips  and  do 
bufinefs  in  great  waters  in  the  calm  and  in  the 
ftorm,  in  peace  and  in  war,  knowing  that  God  is 
your  Saviour,  and  that  under  his  protection  I\Q 
lafting  evil  can  befal  you. 

I 


/ 


"  And  now,  brethren,  I  commend  you  to 
God,  and  to  the  word  of  his  grace,  which  is 
able  to  build  you  up,  and  to  give  you  an  inher 
itance  among  ail  them  which  are  fanclified."* 

*  Acls  xx.  32. 


'THE    END. 


A 


M216804 


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